After weeks of build up, the British & Irish Lions Test series down under finally gets underway on Saturday as Andy Farrell’s men take on Australia at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch this match as it happens, wherever you are in the world, and how to use a VPN if the game isn’t available where you are.
After an opening-game defeat against Argentina, the Lions have gone on to win five matches in a row against Super Rugby and invitational teams on their tour of Australia ahead of this opener against their old Antipodean foes. Those wins have nevertheless come at a cost, with Tomos Williams and Elliot Daly both out with injuries for the rest of the tour, while Garry Ringrose, Mack Hansen, Blair Kinghorn and Luke Cowan-Dickie are all set to miss today’s game after injuries.
Meanwhile, much of the talk surrounding Australia centers on head coach Joe Schmidt’s decision to give 22-year-old rookie Tom Lynagh his first international start, with the son of Wallbies legend Michael Lynagh favored instead of the more experienced Western Force fly-half/full-back Ben Donaldson.
Australia takes on the British & Irish Lions on Saturday, July 19, at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. AEST local time in Australia, which makes it a 6 a.m. ET or 3 a.m. PT start in the US and Canada. For rugby fans in the UK it’s an 11 a.m. BST kick-off, while it’s a 10 p.m. NZST start in New Zealand and a 12 p.m. SAST start in South Africa.
Livestream Australia vs. British & Irish Lions in the US
Rugby fans in the US can watch today’s game on streaming service Paramount Plus, which has exclusive rights to show all three of this year’s British & Irish Lions Tests in the US.
Paramount Plus subscriptions cost $8 or $13 per month, depending on the tier you select. Both give you access to today’s game. The entry-level Essential plan is ad-supported. The pricier Showtime plan removes most ads and includes downloads and Showtime programming. You can also purchase a full year of either plan and save some money versus paying each month individually.
How to watch the British & Irish Lions tour online from anywhere using a VPN
If you’re traveling abroad and want to keep up with all the international rugby action while away from home, a VPN can help enhance your privacy and security when streaming.
It encrypts your traffic and prevents your internet service provider from throttling your speeds. VPNs are legal in many countries, including the US and Canada, and can be used for legitimate purposes such as improving online privacy and security. They can also be helpful when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks while traveling, adding an extra layer of protection for your devices and logins.
However, some streaming services may have policies restricting VPN use to access region-specific content. If you’re considering a VPN for streaming, check the platform’s terms of service to ensure compliance.
If you choose to use a VPN, follow the provider’s installation instructions, ensuring you’re connected securely and in compliance with applicable laws and service agreements. Some streaming platforms may block access when a VPN is detected, so verifying if your streaming subscription allows VPN use is crucial.
Livestream Australia vs. British & Irish Lions in the UK and Ireland
The first test of the Lions’ three-game series against Australia will be broadcast exclusively live via Sky Sports Main Event and Action from 10am.
Livestream Australia vs. British & Irish Lions in Canada
If you want to stream this game live in Canada, you’ll need to subscribe to DAZN Canada.
Livestream Australia vs. British & Irish Lions for free
The great news for rugby fans down is that all three of the British & Irish Lions test matches are being broadcast for free across terrestrial channels Channel 9 and 9Gem.
That means you’ll be able to watch the games online for free on the network’s streaming service 9Now.
Quick tips for streaming Australia vs. British & Irish Lions using a VPN
- With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming rugby may vary.
- If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the «search for city or country» option.
- If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs — like Roku — don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
- All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help, because both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
- And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.